NATO targets Qadhafi regime missile launchers near Tawurgha

Today, 9 July 2011, NATO aircraft carried out a precision strike on a pro-Qadhafi missile firing position near Tawurgha, south of Misrata. NATO intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance was conducted over a period of time to ascertain the military use of the site. It was confirmed as being used to launch indiscriminate attacks on Libyan civilians in the area, including the port and city of Misrata.

The missile site was hidden in and operated from a set of farm buildings. It was also used to store other military equipment, as well as acting as a staging area for pro-Qadhafi forces to instigate attacks on civilians.

"By using civilian sites for military purposes, the Qadhafi regime has once again shown complete disregard for the welfare of Libyan civilians. The loss of this facility to pro-Qadhafi forces will reduce the pressure on Misrata and provide further protection to the civilian population in this area," said Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, Commander of Operation Unified Protector.

NATO's Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR is being conducted under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which calls for an immediate end to all attacks against civilians and authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in Libya.